Master Leon's Assignment: Skyler's Journal

[Da Fuji Apple]

Property of Squire Skyler Sutherland
If lost and found, please return to the Lord Leon's suite (second door to your right after you enter)

To whom it may concern (is this how you start a journal?)

I can't believe I'm wasting my time working on something as dull as this. Master Leon insisted that I write a journal to learn how to 'document' my experiences better. Ok, so I can see how this will help me write reports and what not, but honestly? A journal? What am I some silly girl? I mean, ok, I am a girl, but what am I suppose to write about? My woes? As if I'd admit them.

Alright, I suppose I should take this seriously...I mean, I don't know if Leon plans to read this or not to assess my abilities in recounting information and events. For the love of- I don't even know where to begin though!

I guess I can start with what happened today. Master Leon took me out to the city so we could shop in the market for new riding gloves. He's been acting strangely lately. I can tell something's bothering him, but I can't imagine what. I think he's worried about his brother, Alphonse the King. The King's been boding about something and whenever something upsets him, you can guarantee Leon will get into the thick of it. That's only expected though. Leon is the King's twin brother after all. He doesn't always act like it, but he knows what to do when it counts.

I'll still never understand why Leon took a street rat like me in to be his Squire. Certainly it wasn't for looks or skill. I'm fair enough I suppose, but he's so old he could be my father! but becoming a Knight of the Kingdom has nothing to do with looks now does it? As for skill... Yeah, I still don't know. (Leon was reading over my shoulder. He told me to stop calling him old and being modest. I don't know what he's talking about...)

So anyway, I got off track (as Leon so kindly reminded me-whose journal is this?!). As I was saying writing, we went to the market to get riding gloves. The prices have been going up as of late since Karnak cut off it's trade with us for fear of the recent bandits on the road. It's ridiculous! They've twice the number of knights as us, yet they're afraid of a few petty thieves? Me mam and I used to travel those roads alone and we handled the bandits with ease. Well, mam did. She wouldn't let me near the fighting back then.

Master Leon's calling me to a game of chess now. Apparently I need to work on strategy. Do other Knight Masters do this to their squires? I hope tomorrow we actually do some practical training again. We haven't done any in two days and I'm getting restless.  

[Da Fuji Apple]

Oh the nerve of him! I can't- gah! I can't even write properly now I'm so mad! The damn King came in while Leon and I were playing chess and what does he do?! He sets the guards on us! Leon's own men! Of course he didn't fight back, I mean, how could he? He helped train or trained with half of those men. Of course I fought back until he told me to stop. Got a black eye from the ordeal.

So there we were, standing there held between the guards, when his highness comes in and condemns us to death for treason. His own brother! He didn't even bother to explain the charges! Leon of course went all politician at this point and began demanding our basic rights to a trial and to hear the charges, but Alphonse just ignored him and walked out. You know what was strange though? Alphonse was covered in blood! It was all over his front and on his gloves.

After he left us, the guards lock us up in Leon's tower. It's one of the highest ones, so we're not going anywhere anytime soon. I was listening out the keyhole (Leon's just scolded me for eavesdropping) and I heard them say something about Leon sending an assassin after the King. The madness of it!

I don't know what to do. Leon insists that I get some rest, it's late after all, but how can I possibly sleep knowing that we're to die for crimes we didn't commit! Oh yeah, forgot to mention. I'm being charged too just for being his Squire. Wonderful huh?

*there is a large ink splatter here before a different handwriting*

Leon here-

I took this from Skyler (he's currently cursing at me in every language he can think of. Honestly, haven't I taught him anything?). I've merely taken this to get paper to send a message to some of my...friends. Yes Skyler, I do have friends, shocking isn't it?